An E. coli outbreak in Knox County, Tennessee has sickened several children, according to the Health Department. According to news reports, the only common factors officials can confirm at this time is that the cases are in this E. coli outbreak are occurring during the same time period.
Martha Buchanan, Director of the Knox County Health Department told WATE.com, “We don’t We don’t have anything for the public to do with any information right now. Right now, we’re really working on getting those details, gathering that information, and laying out that picture to see what it tells us about where we need to go next.”
She added that it’s uncommon to have that many cases at one time. Typically, there are about 19 cases of E. coli illnesses that occur every year.
The symptoms of an E. coli infection include severe and painful abdominal and stomach cramps, and diarrhea that is often watery and bloody. There is usually no fever present, but some people do vomit. These symptoms are severe, so people usually go to a doctor.
If this infection is treated improperly with antibiotics, especially if the patient is under the age of 5, it can develop into a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can destroy the kidneys. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms including little urine output, lethargy, pale skin, and easy bruising may have this syndrome and must be taken to a doctor immediately.
Other E. coli outbreaks have been linked to undercooked ground beef, raw milk, and contaminated produce and unpasteurized juice. And there is a nationwide E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak linked to romaine lettuce that is occurring right now. In that outbreak, 26 people have developed HUS, and five people have died.
This illness can be spread person-to-person, so it’s crucial that anyone who has a family member with a diarrheal illness practice good hygiene. wash your hands well with soap and water before preparing food and after taking care of someone who is sick.
